Transcript

A study shows that the number of biotechnology jobs continues to
increase across the nation. The GLRC’s Chuck Quirmbach
reports:

The study classifies certain jobs in agriculture, pharmaceuticals,
medical labs and medical equipment as biotech employment. The
report says collectively those areas added about 16,000 jobs
across the U.S between 2001 and 2004.

Walt Plosila of the Battelle Memorial Institute authored the study
for a biotech industry group. He says it’s no wonder that many
states are competing for biotech companies.

“These are overall very profitable enterprises… some of the best
well paying jobs in the country and in the last four years, these
jobs have had an average inflation adjusted increase of wages of
over six percent compared to the country which is less than one
and a half percent.”

But some people remain opposed to what biotech is doing in areas
such as genetically modified crops and stem cells research.